Shloka 2
गोमहात्म्य-प्रश्नोत्तरम्
Saudāsa–Vasiṣṭha on the Purifying Power of Cows
पितामह उवाच भक्षार्थ विक्रयार्थ वा ये5पहारं हि कुर्वते । दानार्थ ब्राह्मणार्थाय तत्रेदं श्रूयतां फलम्,ब्रह्माजीने कहा--इनन््द्र! जो खाने, बेचने या ब्राह्मणोंको दान करनेके लिये दूसरेकी गाय चुराते हैं, उन्हें क्या फल मिलता है, यह सुनो
pitāmaha uvāca
bhakṣārtha-vikrayārtha vā ye 'pahāraṃ hi kurvate |
dānārthaṃ brāhmaṇārthāya tatredam śrūyatāṃ phalam ||
पितामह म्हणाले—हे इंद्रा! जे लोक खाण्यासाठी, विकण्यासाठी, किंवा ब्राह्मणांना दान देण्यासाठीही दुसऱ्याची (गाय) चोरी करतात—त्यांना काय फल मिळते, ते ऐक.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even if one’s motive appears practical (food, commerce) or even pious (donation to Brahmins), theft remains adharma; the verse introduces that such acts still yield a specific negative karmic consequence.
Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha), in his instruction on dharma, begins a discussion on the results of stealing—especially the case of stealing (notably cattle in context) for eating, selling, or donating—inviting the listener to hear the stated ‘fruit’ of such conduct.